New director, jobs divided at humane society
The executive director job at the Butler County Humane Society was divided into two positions when Jennifer DiCuccio recently announced she was leaving the top spot.
Kristen Cully, president of the humane society's board of directors, said turnover in the executive director position has been high in recent years.
“One reason is the workload is pretty enormous,” Cully said.
So, when DiCuccio decided to leave the position she held for almost three years to spend more time with her family, the board opted to split the position.
Michelle Edinger Jamieson, who recently retired as an assistant director of development from Butler County Community College, accepted the new position of director of development and small projects at the humane society, Cully said.
Shanna Best, an 18-year employee of the humane society, will be promoted from kennel director to shelter director.
Cully said DiCuccio, a former board member, took over running the humane society three years ago “with guns blazing.”
She said DiCuccio created an official policies and procedures manual, updated the employee handbook, enhanced appeal letters, improved the website, connected with other shelters in the United States and initiated a program in which animals in kill shelters — mainly down south — are transported to the Butler County Humane Society for adoption.
“They are really nice dogs that, because of overcrowding, were on the euthanasia list,” Cully said.
DiCuccio also oversaw all shelter operations, animal operations, managed the front desk and building and led the society's fundraising efforts.
Now, Edinger Jamieson will focus on fundraising.
“She is going to be getting out there in the community, getting people more involved with us,” Cully said.
Best will take over animal operations, run the kennel, deal with human resource issues and perform other tasks once covered by the executive director position.
“That was taking up most of (DiCuccio's) time, the day-to-day operations,” Cully said.
She appreciates the Herculean effort put in by DiCuccio over the past three years to improve the humane society and, in turn, the lives of the animals there.
“She really has done a tremendous amount of work,” Cully said.
Regarding Edinger Jamieson, Cully said she has good energy and excellent fundraising experience.
“She's ready to get in there and tap into potential that we've never had before,” Cully said.
DiCuccio said she feels her time as the humane society's executive director was fruitful.
“It wasn't supposed to be long-term,” she said. “I needed to get a few things into place.”
She said she is proud of the improved public image the society has enjoyed in the past few years.
“When we first started, people called it 'the pound,'” DiCuccio said. “Now, people see us as a place where animals come to heal and be reunited with their families and, while they're here, they're well-cared for.”
Her favorite success stories are the long-term animals at the humane society who were adopted after months or even years there.
While the coronavirus pandemic caused suffering among the county's residents, it was actually a blessing to the animals waiting to be adopted, because so many found homes in the past year, DiCuccio said.
She said her job was made easier by those who are dedicated to providing a better life for the dogs and cats at the humane society.
“I'm very, very grateful for the staff and volunteers,” she said. “They were willing to walk alongside me and follow my vision.”
DiCuccio will be leaving the position and Edinger Jamieson will start in March.
